Neoniphon sammara, the sammara squirrelfish, also known as the blood-spot squirrelfish, slender squirrelfish, spotfin squirrelfish, armed squirrel-fish or javelin squirrelfish, is a species squirrelfish found in the Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean from East Africa to the Hawaiian Islands.[2] It feeds on shrimps and small crabs and fish at night[1] and can grow up to 32.0 centimetres (12.6 in) TL in length, though its common length is only 23.0 centimetres (9.1 in) TL. Like N. opercularis, it has a venomous spine on its preopercle.[2]

Neoniphon sammara
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Beryciformes
Family: Holocentridae
Genus: Neoniphon
Species:
N. sammara
Binomial name
Neoniphon sammara
Forsskål, 1775

Habitat

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Neoniphon sammara lives alone or in small groups on seagrass beds and hard substrates in reef flats and lagoons. It can be found at depths between 0 and 46 metres (0 and 151 ft). Of its genus, it is the most likely to be found in shallow waters and it is often associated with Acropora corals,[2] which it will use as shelter during the day.[1]

Commercial use

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Neoniphon sammara is not a commonly-eaten fish, but is common in the Indian aquarium trade. It can also be used as bait for tuna fisheries.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Williams, I. & Greenfield, D. (2016). "Neoniphon sammara". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016. IUCN: e.T67871355A115438968. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T67871355A67871880.en. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  2. ^ a b c Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Neoniphon sammara". FishBase. December 2016 version.
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